The Cunning (18+)

32

"I think she believes you, by the way," Sam said as they got in Jase's car. Jase looked in his rear-view mirror as he reversed off the drive.

"What do you mean?" he asked, reaching over and pulling his seatbelt across his chest. He palmed the steering wheel to straighten up on the road.

"About your plan, leading her into a false sense of security," Sam replied. Jase had considered it himself when she'd said about feeling safe around him but then, he was sure that was the drugs talking. Last night was all down to the drugs because if it wasn't, he was in trouble.

"What makes you say that?" He didn't indicate at the end of the road, turning straight out. He reached across Sam to the glove compartment, opening it to check his gun was where he had left it. Jase had two guns of his own and he liked to keep track of them. He always kept one in the car and one under lock and key in the house.

"Janine said Madison said you aren't that bad."

Jase looked at Sam from the corner of his eyes and breathed a faint laugh, but he didn't say anything. They may have gotten cosy at the party and yes, he had lost his temper with Mike, but he hadn't forgotten who she was. If Madison told Janine she didn't think Jase was that bad, he could confidently put money on it being a test. A test for what, he wasn't sure, though he wouldn't allow himself to be led into a false sense of security by her so easily.

Madison had to know there was a risk that whatever she told Janine would eventually get back to him, so he couldn't dismiss the reasoning that she was saying things like this with intention. Like when she had told him she felt safe around him. He couldn't tell if she was being sincere or not. One thing he was sure of was that Madison was the type of girl who could be stunningly conniving.

They pulled up outside the club. Jase ran in to drop off the money they'd accumulated over the week to Ramon. When he came back, he lit a cigarette and opened his window a few inches.

"Did she say anything else, Madison?" he asked after a couple of drags.

"Not from what Janine said, but I'd say after how she was towards you, Stockholm syndrome is a strong possibility with her." Jase hummed, running his thumb across his bottom lip. He didn't think Madison was that transparent. It was easier not to think about it. Not to think about her laughing with him the night before, or about her smile as she yapped away. Easier not to picture her asleep after dropping a Xanax and feel all of those confusing feelings that went with it.

But Jase couldn't stop thinking about her. She was like a puzzle and he couldn't quite figure out where all the pieces went.

"Did you want to do drops or tick first?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Drops, save the fun for after," Sam replied.

It was getting dark by the time the boys had finished their deliveries. They were waiting for their first debt collection in the car park at the back of a Barbershop .

"How much does he owe?" Sam asked, looking around. Garages boxed them in, covered in graffiti, all childish tags and the odd phallus. There was only one way to get in and out of the car park. They were watching the cut through that led to the front of the shop.

"Only £60," Jase replied, standing up straight from leaning on his car when he saw the guy they were waiting for coming through the alley. Sam whistled to get his attention, and Jase smirked at the familiar discomfort on the guy's face. "You got my money, Chris?" he asked.

"Yeah, man, of course. I was about to run it to you," Chris replied with a sheepish grin. Sam and Jase exchanged a look. It was bullshit, and they knew it, but neither of them bothered calling him out.

"Looks like we saved you a journey," Sam said as Chris approached. He pulled out his wallet, took out three twenties, and handed them to Jase.

"See you around," Jase said, getting back in the driver's seat.

"Who's next?" Sam asked, tucking the cash in the middle compartment.

"Oliver," Jase replied. Sam grunted in response. It didn't matter to Oliver how many times Sam and Jase roughed him up, he was always reluctant to settle up.

They took the stairs of the council flat building quietly, so Oliver wasn't alerted of their presence. Jase felt for his switchblade as he waited out of view from the spyhole. Sam knocked. The door opened, and Sam smiled.

"Alright, Ollie?" he asked. Before Oliver had time to respond, Jase stepped in front of Sam and booted the door, forcing Oliver back as they stormed the flat. Oliver was already trying to talk his way out of trouble, scrambling backward on the floor and up the wall. He was already pale and they'd barely even started their usual dance.

Sam closed the door to minimise the chances of neighbours interfering. Not that they had much to worry about, most people liked to mind their own business. They'd been seen in the block enough times. It was common knowledge on the estate that Oliver had a drug problem and people wanted to avoid that brand of mess.

"Where's my money, Ollie?" Jase asked calmly.

Oliver was stuttering, hardly able to string together a sentence. As a user himself, Jase could tell Ollie was off his tits on the substance he was refusing to pay for.

"I'll get it to you, mate. I just need a bit more time-" Jase was shaking his head. Oliver read from the same script every time. Word for word.

"You're out of time." He clutched the blade in his pocket, about to pull it out when he was stopped in his tracks. A small voice came from the end of the hallway. They all turned to see a little girl, no older than four, in fairy pajamas was standing in the bedroom door.. A teddy dangled in her hand.

"Daddy, who's here?" she asked, rubbing at her droopy eyes with her free hand. Jase looked back to Oliver and raised his brows, telling him to get rid of her.

"Just some of daddy's friends, baby. Go back to bed. I'll come read you another story in a minute," Oliver reassured her to the best of his ability. She turned around, shutting the door behind her. "Please," Oliver went back to pleading, "I've got a daughter to feed."

Jase flashed a menacing smile. "Should have thought about that before you ran up a £300 bill. Your daughter is not my responsibility." Oliver was sweating, licking his lips, gulping in air like a fish out of water. Jase was growing more impatient. "I've got a switch in my pocket, Ollie. It would be a real shame if one of your daughter's earliest memories was seeing her daddy cut up in his hallway." Oliver's eyes flared, realising there was no quick way out of this and Jase wasn't fucking around.

"I've only got £200 here. I can get you the rest soon."

"How soon?" Jase ground out.

Oliver stammered to get his words out. "B-by the end of the week. I'll even come round and drop it off."

"I'll come and get it next Friday," Jase replied, stepping back and out of Ollie's personal space.

Oliver nodded, finally able to breathe. He went into the kitchen, opened a coffee jar, pulled out a roll of twenties, and handed them to Jase. Jase chucked the roll to Sam who proceeded to count the money.

"I'll be here at half five next Friday, Ollie. If you're late on a payment again, I'll drag you into your daughter's room and cut you in front of her. Understood?"

"All here," Sam said. Oliver swallowed and nodded.

Jase smiled as if he hadn't just forced his way into Ollie's home and threatened to traumatise his daughter. "Glad we got this cleared up. Enjoy the rest of your night, mate." He pat Ollie on the back twice and they showed themselves out, jogging down the stairs.

"Did you know his daughter was there?" Sam asked.

"I didn't even know he had a kid, but if you owe money, you owe money. A kid isn't going to be your get-out-of-jail-free card."